George Ellis, Former Vice President Of MWAA, Sues For Defamation

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - A former vice president at the board that oversees metropolitan Washington's two major airports has filed a $10 million defamation suit against his one-time employer.

George Ellis filed suit against the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in Arlington County. Ellis claims the authority told federal auditors he had been terminated when he actually retired with benefits.

Ellis was not identified by name in the November audit, but the report said a person who held Ellis' title at the authority had improperly received expensive gifts, including Super Bowl tickets, from contractors who did business with the authority. The publicity surrounding the audit cost Ellis a pending job offer with the city of Albany, N.Y.

The airports authority has been under investigation for ethical lapses in hiring practices and contract awards.